Getting a gap year

Soo it's time when I've to get admission in an engineering university for my bachelor's but time's getting tuff. My high school marks aren't enough for me to apply to my dream university. Also i didn't apply in other universities and now I'm just free not doing anything and didn't get admission so ig it will be a gap year for me. There are private universities I can apply to but it's just too far and the fee is high too. Soo ig it will be a gap year for me or should I apply in private universities gimme opinion.